What is already known: Screening sexually active young people for asymptomatic chlamydia and gonorrhoea is important to detect infection, prevent transmission and reduce reproductive health risks. Free online postal self-sampling for sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing is an acceptable alternative to clinic-based testing in some countries, but accessibility and acceptability of online testing in Aotearoa New Zealand is unknown. What this study adds: Opinions about online STI testing among Māori and Pacific young people were mixed, but more concerns than potential advantages were identified. Equity in access to online STI testing by Māori and Pacific young people could be improved by reducing cost, improving awareness about STI testing, and addressing barriers identified in the online testing pathway.

What’s already known: Sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) minority populations face known and preventable health inequities. However, SOGI data are not collected in routine data collection such as administrative health data, and there are limited studies exploring whether these populations are comfortable with having their data stored in these datasets. What does this study add: The research offers estimates of comfort with having sexual identity data recorded in official datasets among the GBM population of NZ, contributing to a larger body of research that primarily focusses on disclosure in health care settings.

What is already known: Some patients with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) can experience persistent symptoms for many years if not treated early. Early access to specialist services such as concussion services can significantly improve patient recovery. What this study adds: This study provides initial evidence that a supported health care pathway following mTBI is feasible to implement in primary care and can facilitate early access to concussion services for those who need it.

What is already known: The COVID-19 pandemic and its sequelae served to reduce access to health care providers, exacerbated unmet preventive and diagnostic health needs and made online health information even more important for consumers to make decisions about self- and family-care. What this study adds: This survey asked an ethnically diverse group of patients attending cardiology outpatients what format of information was most valued and strategies they use to trust the information they find. Simple fact sheets were the most preferred online format followed by videos and discussion groups with the best ‘life-hack’ being to get their health professional’s advice on the most trusted website for their condition.

What is already known: There is a shift towards general practitioners (GPs) prescribing gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) in primary care settings using an informed consent model of care. There is a lack of long-term data on health and wellbeing outcomes for people taking GAHT in Aotearoa New Zealand. What this study adds: The insights from this study offer a blueprint for current and future survey design, to ensure data collection is responsive to the needs of transgender and non-binary (TNB) communities and health care providers. These findings will inform future research to equip health care professionals involved in prescribing GAHT with local, evidence-based data to support their delivery of quality health care to TNB people.

What is already known: The use of psychotropic medications in Australia has increased over the last two decades, with general practitioners being the primary prescribers. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated mental health issues in adults and the older population, leading to increased concerns about mental health and wellbeing. What this study adds: This study estimates prescribing rates of psychotropic medication by patient demographics and found higher rates of prescribing among females, older people, and those with low to moderate SES. There was a consistent increase in prescribing rates between 2018 and 2022, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

What is already known: Primary healthcare teams are well positioned to promote and protect patients’ oral health, and it is likely that more people at risk of oral disease or needing oral health care will present at primary healthcare practices. Primary healthcare teams need to have sufficient knowledge and confidence to address patients’ oral health complaints. What this study adds: Doctors and nurses appear open to incorporating oral health in their day-to-day practice. Integrating oral health in primary health care in Aotearoa New Zealand will require changes at the individual, professional and systems levels.

What is already known: Limited international research with Pacific Island communities has examined ear disease and hearing health knowledge and beliefs to inform health service delivery. What this study adds: This study is the first mixed-methods investigation using a Pacific methodological approach to examine Pacific peoples’ ear and hearing health worldviews, including knowledge, beliefs, and experiences of the hearing healthcare system in Aotearoa New Zealand. It will assist healthcare professionals in providing more responsive ear and hearing care services for Pacific peoples.

What is already known: While there is extensive global documentation on the sociodemographic attributes of yoga instructors and users, along with their motivations for engaging in yoga, the specifics of yoga instructors and users in New Zealand remain relatively unexplored. What this study adds: This study aims to fill this gap by investigating the distinctive traits and backgrounds of yoga instructors and users in New Zealand. Additionally, the study examines the rationale behind yoga use, the factors that shape participant involvement, participantr methods of seeking information, and how participants communicate with healthcare providers. The insights garnered from this research aim to provide valuable information to the healthcare sector in New Zealand.

What is already known: Dealing with uncertainty in medicine is troublesome. General practitioners are vulnerable to uncertainty due to their exposure to undifferentiated illness. Patient encounters, especially with those suffering from ambiguous conditions, can foster introspection within clinicians. What this study adds: This qualitative study suggests that conceptualising uncertainty as a holistic challenge, and implementing a bio-psycho-social problem orientation may help clinicians manage uncertainty in a manner that leaves the patient feeling positively supported and the clinician feeling positively inquisitive.

What is known about the topic: Routinely collected administrative and health data have potential to be used for research that provides real-world health insights that can inform policy and improve clinical practice and population health. Engaging stakeholders to establish priorities can help ensure research is fit for purpose, provides important health benefits, and has the greatest potential to improve health equity. What this study adds: Primary care clinicians and academics identified the top research areas to improve health equity in primary care as the health workforce, health services, mental health, and models of primary health care. The top research questions include evaluating the impacts of annual health checks for people with intellectual disability, the role of allied health as front-line primary health care providers, and the role of an embedded social worker in a general practice clinic setting.

What is already known: The introduction of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been seen as a rapid and sensitive method for respiratory virus surveillance, and the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical need for rapid diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 and the importance of using PCR testing for an accurate assessment. What this study adds: This study demonstrated the feasibility and clinical utility of using point-of-care test (POCT) swabbing for immediate rapid antigen test (RAT) and subsequent PCR testing for respiratory viruses in general practices in the middle of managing a viral pandemic.

What is already known: Respiratory conditions are a major public health concern in Aotearoa New Zealand, and are responsible for a large proportion of the morbidity and mortality experienced by Māori and Pacific children. What this study adds: This paper provides an important overview of respiratory research that involve Māori and Pacific children living in Aotearoa New Zealand. It emphasises that more studies focusing on the needs of Māori and Pacific whānau and communities, and the use of culturally responsive approaches, are essential, ensuring that aspirations are whānau centred and tailored to their needs.

What is already known: International research shows that people with migraine face significant barriers to accessing effective management. Known barriers include expense of health care and treatments, lack of or misdiagnosis and inadequate access to and communication of effective treatment strategies. What this study adds: This is the first study in Aotearoa New Zealand to document barriers to effective migraine management. Findings are taken from the perspective of people with migraine. Issues were identified in a range of areas including health professional knowledge and training, poor interface between primary and secondary care, inadequately communicated care plans and patients feeling stigmatised by health professionals. We offer recommendations to improve access to effective migraine management.

What is known about this topic: There is a current paucity of research in emergency simulation training in primary care. Although there is literature on the use that emergency simulation education has in secondary care services such as emergency medicine (EM) or for intensive care unit (ICU) staff, it is not well established or validated in primary care. What this study adds: To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first literature review of studies that evaluate the use of emergency care simulations for primary care clinicians. The findings from this review can help inform and guide the appropriate education and training of primary care clinicians.

What is already known: General practitioners find examining the retina with direct ophthalmoscopy challenging and have low confidence in interpreting findings. What this study adds: General practitioners using smart-phone non-mydriatic fundus photography achieved more adequate views and positive findings of the optic nerve and fundus compared to direct ophthalmoscopy and had close agreement for management referral with the reviewing ophthalmologist.

What is already known: Polypharmacy is increasing as the population ages and causes harm. Deprescribing takes time and requires thoughtful consideration and patient interaction. What this study adds: Focused deprescribing is a significant reflective learning and quality improvement opportunity for medical students and general practitioner supervisors. This student-led activity adds benefit to the student, their supervisor, and the patient of a comprehensive medications review leading to improved knowledge, appropriate deprescribing, and reduced drug interactions.

What is already known: There is increasing concern about the health and wellbeing of tertiary students internationally and comparatively little is known about the context in New Zealand, especially the support being provided for minority students. What this study adds: This research provides information on support services for Pacific students at a university in New Zealand including students’ response to support provided during the COVID-19 pandemic.

What is already known: Older people commonly take medicines to improve their health, however medicines can also be harmful. Little is known about medicines use in retirement village residents in Aotearoa New Zealand. What this study adds:Our findings, along with new information about medicine use in ‘oldest’ age, suggest that retirement village residents may benefit from talking to their health professional about their medicines to see if they are still the right medicines for them.

What is known about the topic: Even small prescription charges can prevent people from accessing medicines they need, leading to increased use of other health services. The FreeMeds randomised controlled trial found that eliminating $5 prescription charges led to a reduction in hospital use. What this research adds: This paper provides some of the human stories of participants in the FreeMeds study. Many reported having to make changes to how they took their medicines or making choices between obtaining their medicines or other essentials. Some reported hospitalisations due to inability to afford medicines. Few participants had discussed their inability to afford medicines with their general practitioners.

What is already known: We have developed a practical ethical checklist comprising 25 questions to assess direct-to-consumer virtual consultation services from an ethical perspective. What this study adds: This study applies the practical ethical checklist to six direct-to-consumer virtual consultation services in Aotearoa New Zealand. It identifies their strengths and weaknesses in this area and raises fundamental questions on what we deem important in virtual care.

What is already known: Telephone and video consultations are widely used in general practice. Evaluating these virtual services from an ethical perspective is challenging yet essential to ensure good quality of care. What this study adds: We developed a practical ethical checklist for direct-to-consumer telemedicine services that should make ethical assessment more accessible for all stakeholders.

What is already known: The integration of pharmacist roles into primary health care, including general practice, is growing in Aotearoa New Zealand, with geographical variation. Recent health policy and professional guidance support further development of these roles. What this study adds: There are more pharmacist prescribers in primary health care than there were in 2018, with strong interest in future prescribing roles, yet barriers to further expansion remain. Employers need to ensure that primary healthcare-based pharmacists are well supported in their role by other practice staff and that appropriate infrastructure is in place to facilitate this.